regiment of the royal west africa frontier force and in 1943 aged 18, he sailed all the way from ghana to india on the high seas to fight for our freedom. he told me this. "we fought ferociously against the japanese at the river irrawade town of pakkoku. it was a fearful and real battle where we chased them to cross the river at mabu. we lost six of our soldiers there. it was a sorrowful and difficult time." i am honoured to deliver this message in memory of my uncle's dear friends who died in this battle, and whom he was sad to leave behind in burma.

destroyer hms racecourse as part of force 63. whilst on the ship, he witnessed a kamikaze attack on hms squirrel. once the crew were rescued, the ship had to be scuttled in order to preserve darkness as it was a glowing blaze. thank you, dad, for what you and your fellow sailors helped to achieve whilst serving, and thank you for finally sharing your experiences with me before you passed away seven years ago. i will make sure that your grandchildren will always acknowledge what you and your comrades did, by reminding them "worse things happen at sea". very shortly, we will hear the fly

past of five royal air force aircraft from the second world war. and of course, we rememberjust how vital those aircraft were, because they helped to turn the tide of the war in the far east. men who previously would have been encircled, trapped by the japanese, without supplies of ammunition, food or medicine, could now wait, could stand and fight. and have supplies dropped for them. and here we see now, coming, that memorialfly—past.

good morning. i'm les wills, and as a young sailor aged 17, i served on hms indefatigable during her time at war in the pacific. from november 1944, until she witnessed the japanese surrender in tokyo harbour on 15 august 1945, 75 years ago today. hms indefatigable was a fleet aircraft carrier sent to attackjapan and her territories,

first sumatra, then okinawa. we sailed on rough seas in enemy waters. we carried out attacking flying missions crewed by some of the bravest young men you could ever meet. this country owes them a great debt. 0n the 1st of april we were the first royal navy ship to be hit by a kamikaze attack. i was positioned in the gun turret and unable to see it, but the sounds and smells around me portrayed the chaos and destruction above. the smell of cordite still lives with me. strangely we felt safe.

the commanders were tenacious, and we stuck together. often we thanked the workers of the shipyards who forged our decks of steel. today, i am so glad of the memories with my hms indefatigable shipmates, and of our time serving the royal navy and our country. we are here to remember all those who cannot be with us. you have not been forgotten and never will. ladies and gentlemen, those who are able please be upstanding as the nation comes together to remember those who did not return, and gave their futures for the lives we are able to lead today.

they shall grow not old as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will rememberthem. plays last post

plays piper's lament

when you go home, tell

them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today. ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. music: hymn to the fallen byjohn williams.

ladies and gentlemen, please be seated.

over 140,000 british and commonwealth troops were taken prisoner by the japanese and held in inhumane camps rife with disease, cruelty and brutal punishment. as a prisoner of war in the far east, you were seven times more likely to die than if you had been captured in europe. our allied prisoners' bare hands moved hundreds of tonnes of rock, metal and wood to build railways, airstrips and bridges, and toiled relentlessly in copper mines and steel factories, all in the searing heat with little clothing. thousands upon thousands upon thousands suffered grim deaths. the survivors were told not to speak of their troubles. and their relatives were told not to ask. but now, their voices are being heard.

my father, fergus gordon anckorn was a gunner in the royal artillery, captured by the japanese during the battle of singapore. he was a talented conjuror, and began to perform simple tricks during rest periods, which, with growing interest from the japanese guards, became longer and slightly more light—hearted. whenever he could, my father would use food as props, quickly realising that once touched, it would be given to him. he would rush back to his hut and share his winnings with his comrades, providing much needed nourishment. however, make no mistake, beatings by their captors could be given at the drop of a hat and summary executions were commonplace. after three and a half years as a prisoner, 75 years ago today, my father, who was six foot tall, weighed in atjust six stone.

yet, surprisingly, he bore no malice towards the japanese. he felt that forgiveness enabled him to look forward in life and not to become embroiled in bitterness, and he has affectionately become known as the conjuror on the kwai. 75 years ago today i was aged 16, in loebok linggau camp in sumatra, when parachutists came down from the sky and through our camp gates. we were overwhelmed with emotion. our three and a half years as prisoners of war was finally over. i was captured with my family on a boat fleeing singapore. our mother looked after us well.

unfortunately, we lost my grandmother, whom i found on a bamboo bed with a pillow on her lap. she had died. on the way back to the camp, i spotted an orchid plant, and i put those orchids on her wooden cross. # only in sleep i see their faces # children i played with when i was a child # louise comes back with her brown hair braided # annie with ringlets warm and wild

# only in sleep time is forgotten # what may have come to them, who can know? # yet we played last night as long ago, # and the doll house stood at the turn of the stair #. # only in sleep time is forgotten # only in sleep i see their faces # children i played

with when i was a child # louise comes back with her brown hair braided # annie with ringlets warm and wild # only in sleep time is forgotten # what may have come to them, who can know? # yet we played last night as long ago, # and the doll house stood

at the turn of the stair today we remember and give thanks for the extraordinary bravery, resourcefulness, and tenacity demonstrated by those who fought in the asia pacific theatre of the second world war. together they comprised a force whose courage was as remarkable as its diversity. hundreds of thousands of troops from india, burma, china, and across asia we re india, burma, china, and across asia werejoined by

india, burma, china, and across asia were joined by hundreds of thousands more from europe, africa, australasia and north america. together, they served with the greatest distinction. without them, the war could not have been won. on this day in 1945, the surrender of imperialjapan and the cessation of fighting in the asia—pacific region, brought an end to six bitter years of global conflict. victory in europe had been achieved that may, of course. but, while millions in europe rejoiced, in southeast asia and the pacific, our long—suffering service personnel with their commonwealth and allied partners, continued the fight for three more

months. it was their extraordinary endurance and fortitude which secured to the end of the war. and which was later confirmed by the ratification of the japanese surrender on the 2nd of september 1945 in tokyo bay on board the uss missouri. an event my father witnessed while serving with the british pacific fleet. from the advantage point of the 21st—century, it is hard for us to appreciate fully the suffering endured by those who fought or caught up in this theatre of war. during his time as supreme theatre of war. during his time as supreme allied commander southeast asia command, my great—uncle lord

mountbatten helped me begin to understand the quite atrocious conditions experienced by our forces throughout southeast asia. but those of us not there at the time really can only begin to understand. lord mountbatten told me about his experiences of that gruelling campaign in which our troops not only faced a determined opponent, but, at the same time, had to contend with an incredibly hostile jungle environment and the ever present scourge jungle environment and the ever present scourge of disease that claimed almost a quarter of a million allied casualties. at this point, we should also reflect on those unfortunate prisoners of war who suffered so dreadfully. over a

quarter of all allied prisoners of war lost their lives in captivity. the courage and fortitude shown by all of those who fought in the region was exemplary. field marshal slim observed that victory was reliant upon that courage, being hardy, their refusal to be beaten, either by the cruel hazards of nature, or by the fierce strength of their human adversary. no fewer than 29 victoria crosses were awarded during the burma campaign. the highest tally of any theatre of war, another measure of its exceptional nature. it is also the greatest importance to remember the courage of the many ethnic groups in burma

who fought so bravely in the most appalling circumstances. their resolve, like that of all british, commonwealth and allied forces, was unbreakable. and, to this day, stands as an example to us all. of course, this was a war that affected not only those who fought, but had a devastating impact on countless civilians who found themselves caught up in the conflict. indeed, for many in burma, those who lived through the war as well as for their children, grandchildren and great—grandchildren, conflict, tragically, continues to blight their lives to this day. and so, as we gather in this most fitting of settings, in front of the burma star

memorial grove, it seems to me to be vital that we remember all those who we re vital that we remember all those who were so profoundly affected by this conflict, those who gallantly served, a number of whom we are fortu nate to served, a number of whom we are fortunate to have here amongst us. and those who gave and endured so much in so many other ways. to all of you, we owe the greatest debt of gratitude. which can never be fully repaid. having such vivid and special memories of attending one of the many burma star association reunions with my great—uncle lord mountbatten, and meeting some of the thousands of veterans still alive over 40 yea rs thousands of veterans still alive over 40 years ago, i felt most privileged to be asked to take on the patronage last year of the burma

star memorialfund, the patronage last year of the burma star memorial fund, which, as the patronage last year of the burma star memorialfund, which, as of today, fully assumes the mantle of the association. of which my father was patron for over 40 years. the fund will uphold a lasting memorial to the veterans of the burma campaign. through a scholarship programme which fully reflects the multinational nature of the allied force that fought in the far east. scholarships are available to young people from any of the 30 nations that served on the allied side in burma. in doing so, it is hoped we will keep alive the indefatigable spirit of those who took part in the burma campaign. and through education, shared the most precious

dividends of peace and freedom. ladies and gentlemen, today, 75 yea rs ladies and gentlemen, today, 75 years after that hard won victory over tyranny, i am years after that hard won victory over tyranny, lam proud years after that hard won victory over tyranny, i am proud and years after that hard won victory over tyranny, lam proud and humbled to be able to join you all in expressing my profound respect and admiration to the veterans and survivors of that interminable and terrible campaign. above all, however, let us remember all those who never returned and would never grow old. we pray that their stories will be passed on to the generations of today and tomorrow. so that we can learn from their example. all too often, those who fought in the far east have been labelled the

forgotten army in the forgotten war. many of the soldiers, nurses, and other personnel felt anger or disappointment at how they were treated when they finally returned home from a war which, from the public point of view, had ended on the 8th of may 1945. today, in this hallowed place, and in the presence of all those gathered here or in their homes, or wherever they may be, let us a firm that they and the surviving veterans are not forgotten. rather, you are respected, thanked, and cherished with all our hearts. and for all time. we salute all those who remain among us time. we salute all those who remain among us and offer our most heartfelt and undying gratitude for

those who are gone before. your service and your sacrifice will echo through the ages. hello. for most of the uk the weather isn't going to change much for the rest of the weekend. saturday a pretty dull and drizzly day. thunderstorms in the forecast. it is not all bad, some sunshine and pleasa ntly warm it is not all bad, some sunshine and pleasantly warm weather across northern wales, the north west of england, south—western scotland and the western isles too. it is certainly not cloudy everywhere. the temperatures are typically in the low 20s but a lot cooler on the northern sea coast. thunderstorms are possible, broadly speaking, across the southern half of the s